iPod stuck on hold

macrumors 68000

If my 3rd generation iPod's hold switch gets turned on, it won't come out of hold mode. I can switch it back all day long, and it doesn't do anything. I can't reset, because the buttons are frozen from being on hold. Anyone know what to do?

macrumors regular

If my 3rd generation iPod's hold switch gets turned on, it won't come out of hold mode. I can switch it back all day long, and it doesn't do anything. I can't reset, because the buttons are frozen from being on hold. Anyone know what to do?

Daniel

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It sounds like the actual switch has disconnected from the hold slider that you move to turn hold on/off. This happened to me, I just disassembled the iPod and played around with the switch slider alignment with the actual switch.

macrumors 6502

nope.. the previous poster was correct, if our out of warrenty your gonna have to open it up yourself, or get someone who has done it before. search google for some instructionas and get a small flathead screwdriver. but id be careful, if you dont know waht your doing you can really mess up your case. and unfortunately you dont have the ability to just grab yourself a new case like the techies at apple so be careful

macrumors Core

or you could try mounting your iPod with iTunes to see if that works, i know it doesnt matter if mine has hold on or not, but this way you can use the ipod updater to restore your ipod, and from there you can see if it is a hardware issue or a software one

thread startermacrumors 68000

Thanks guys. I ended up opening it up and switching the hold button off manually (without damaging it!), and everything works fine now. The only problem is that the hold switch won't catch the little switch inside without locking it in hold again, so I just kept the hold switch from connecting with the internal switch. Now I have no hold function on the iPod, but I do have the remote that I can do it with. Thanks again!

thread startermacrumors 68000

Actually, I used a pocketknife. I gently slid it into the crack, and used it to undo the little clips that hold the plastic in place. It is best to start near the top of the left side. Once you get the first clip out, it is pretty easy from there.

macrumors newbie

I know this topic might be old, but this recently happened to my friends ipod nano, and it wouldn't turn on and obviously the click wheel was disabled. Seeing I am a "computer geek," according to him he asked me to fix it.
At first i thought it was Firmware, so I backed up all his music and restored it. That didn't work.
So I browsed the internet for ideas and game along this forum and various other sites that had majority of the same ideas. I didn't want to open it up because it wasn't my ipod, like one site says to do. So at school i popped the cap off the hold switch, with my finger nail, or you could use a pen. I got something sharp like a pin, pen or a paper clip and moved the switch into the off position and then clipped the cap back onto the switch. The ipod now works fine, the hold switch still works and I didn't have to open it. Just flick off a flimsy cap and then put it back on.

I hope this can help someone in the future, who is searching through Google. While there ipod is busted.

macrumors G4

I have the same issue with my 3G ipod. What tool did you use to open the beast up? I've got a set of tiny screwdrivers but I think they might botch up the chrome and/or plastic with knicks and dents.

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

on my G4 I had to open mine up to pull the battery To open up I put a little pressure on the sides to cause the chrome part to pull away a little from the plastic top then I think I put either a little screw driver or a key in the space I opened up and just kind of pried it off. It really not that hard and you can tell I ever did it. Any new scratches you put on the chrome well lets face it your iPod is several years old so you will not be able to tell any how. They are at most will look like surface scratches that should already be on there and they are very light.

macrumors member

I know this topic might be old, but this recently happened to my friends ipod nano, and it wouldn't turn on and obviously the click wheel was disabled. Seeing I am a "computer geek," according to him he asked me to fix it.
At first i thought it was Firmware, so I backed up all his music and restored it. That didn't work.
So I browsed the internet for ideas and game along this forum and various other sites that had majority of the same ideas. I didn't want to open it up because it wasn't my ipod, like one site says to do. So at school i popped the cap off the hold switch, with my finger nail, or you could use a pen. I got something sharp like a pin, pen or a paper clip and moved the switch into the off position and then clipped the cap back onto the switch. The ipod now works fine, the hold switch still works and I didn't have to open it. Just flick off a flimsy cap and then put it back on.

I hope this can help someone in the future, who is searching through Google. While there ipod is busted.

macrumors member

It seems to be in lock position at all times, and the only time i can get it to unlock is when its somewhere in between lock and unlock and i have to hold it like that.... or else it slips to one side and locks... grrr... what to do, what to do

macrumors newbie

i think ive got the same problem, my ipod 4th gen is fine exept that it is always stuck on hold surprising as this happend after my friend chucked my bag with my ipod in it out of a 3rd floor window. i've tried to open it but i can't i used a screwdriver but i keep making marks on the plastic. can anyone help.

macrumors newbie

I know this topic might be old, but this recently happened to my friends ipod nano, and it wouldn't turn on and obviously the click wheel was disabled. Seeing I am a "computer geek," according to him he asked me to fix it.
At first i thought it was Firmware, so I backed up all his music and restored it. That didn't work.
So I browsed the internet for ideas and game along this forum and various other sites that had majority of the same ideas. I didn't want to open it up because it wasn't my ipod, like one site says to do. So at school i popped the cap off the hold switch, with my finger nail, or you could use a pen. I got something sharp like a pin, pen or a paper clip and moved the switch into the off position and then clipped the cap back onto the switch. The ipod now works fine, the hold switch still works and I didn't have to open it. Just flick off a flimsy cap and then put it back on.

I hope this can help someone in the future, who is searching through Google. While there ipod is busted.

Weirdstranger.

Click to expand...

This worked perfectly for me, but there's another step once you pop off that little hold button (I used a thumbtack). You then have to insert that thumbtack into that empty hole, and place it up against the front side of the iPod and move the hold switch to the off position. You can't see what you are doing, but just put it in on the left, press against the front, and slide to the right. It worked like a charm for me, went off hold, put the button back in, and I dared to try toggling hold again, and it worked fine.

macrumors newbie

somehow when replacing the battery in an ipod mini, the interior toggle for the hold switch broke off, and the ipod is stuck on hold, and i cannot get it off. any ideas? i don't care if i lose the capacity to put it back on hold; i just want it off hold so that it is not locked. Thanks.

macrumors newbie

I know this topic might be old, but this recently happened to my friends ipod nano, and it wouldn't turn on and obviously the click wheel was disabled. Seeing I am a "computer geek," according to him he asked me to fix it.
At first i thought it was Firmware, so I backed up all his music and restored it. That didn't work.
So I browsed the internet for ideas and game along this forum and various other sites that had majority of the same ideas. I didn't want to open it up because it wasn't my ipod, like one site says to do. So at school i popped the cap off the hold switch, with my finger nail, or you could use a pen. I got something sharp like a pin, pen or a paper clip and moved the switch into the off position and then clipped the cap back onto the switch. The ipod now works fine, the hold switch still works and I didn't have to open it. Just flick off a flimsy cap and then put it back on.

I hope this can help someone in the future, who is searching through Google. While there ipod is busted.

Weirdstranger.

Click to expand...

OMG!!
im so happy.
i was going to be so pissed if i didn't have an ipod..again.
thanks so much! it worked instantly!

macrumors newbie

I have an 80 GB video IPOD that is stuck on hold and I can't seem to unstick it. I have tried popping the hold cap off and switching it like that, didn't work. I have only had it since december. Should i just take it to the apple store and have them fix it or replace it or should i try to fix it myself. This really sucks, i need music when I am working on the computer, makes time go faster.

macrumors newbie

i have removed the white pastic on top of the ipod and switch is in the off position. it still says it is on hold and i have tried to lock then unlock it and it is still not unlocking. what do i do some one please help.

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